Page 75 of Starting a New Life

“Heath is sharp,” he said. “His approach often differs from mine, but we come from very different backgrounds. I think it’d be good to have the input of someone who comes from a more ruthless pack. It’s the same with Angelo. He and Heath are relatively new. Diana and Jenny have gotten used to our ways and have been here how long?”

“Twenty years?” I furrowed my brow.

“Yes. So, I think having Heath and Angelo weigh in on our decisions is important. I’m not sure about giving Heath the official role as my deputy, though. Ideally, I’d want it to be Heath and Angelo.”

I snorted, clapping Rhett’s back. “You’re being greedy. I’m offering you the chance to name one deputy, and you immediately want two.”

Rhett laughed, eyes sparkling. “Well, you also wanted my opinion. And my opinion is that I can’t decide between Angelo and Heath. Heath filled my role more prominently while I was away, but when we’re sparring, it’s Angelo who takes the role of instructor. So… if you need me to decide, you’ll have to give me time.”

Rolling my eyes, I nudged my friend. “It was a spur-of-the-moment idea, so take your time. We’ll also have to talk to the Elders about working those positions into our budget. If we get them to agree, maybe they could both have, like, a part-time role?”

Rhett laughed. “Talking budget with the Elders is your job. I don’t want to get involved in that.”

“Fat chance. If you’re the greedy one who wants two people, you’re helping me.”

Rhett actually stuck his tongue out at me, but nodded at the same time. And really, it was logical that he was in on it.

“Fine. We can talk about it tomorrow. It’s already past six. Sorry, Gray, but I have plans with my mate. I want to take him out to dinner, and since budgeting is not an emergency, I’m gonna go ahead and grab Levi from Nix’s room. I bet he’s still up there, pestering your mage about magic.” Rhett’s fond smile made me laugh. He was so deeply in love with his mate that it was bordering on disgusting. It also made me feel kinda… icky. Envious. Impatient to have what he and Levi had.

We both got up and left my office, heading toward the dining room.

“You do that. Meanwhile, I’ll grab dinner for me and Nix from the kitchen and head up to him.”

We passed Angelo, who gave us a short nod, as he carried an empty plate from the dining room back to the kitchen.

“He’s still not coming down here?” Rhett asked, voice showing genuine concern.

I sighed. “No. I mean, not really. Yesterday, he sat on the patio for two hours, but he was all alone, and I was in here, letting the kids braid my hair while I watched him.”

Rhett nodded. “He needs time to get acclimated.”

That was what Jasper had said too. Be patient. Give him time. He’s scared.

“You know how good I am at being patient.”

His snort made me glare at him.

“Sorry,” he said, raising his arms. “But you and patient do not go together.”

Which was part of the problem. I wanted Nix to get along with my pack. Wanted to see him mingling with my community. Wanted him to lose that tension in his shoulders and the wariness in his eyes. Scenting his fear every time a pack member approached from behind was agony.

“Maybe I should…” I didn’t get to finish that sentence, the words dying on my tongue as my eyes caught sight of a woman casually sitting at one of the dining room tables, her long black and grey hair put into a simple braid. There was far more grey than there was five years ago. I’d seen it in pictures, but having her in front of me made the changes far more noticeable.

“Mom?”

My mother turned her head, a sheepish smile on her face. “Gray, honey!” She rose, her wide dress billowing out, her sweet, comforting scent surrounding me in an instant, drowning out all the other scents in the room. She was glowing, her smile radiating with happiness as she hurried over and wrapped me up in her arms. She was smaller than me, smaller than Nix too, but she was strong, her hug fierce.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, not entirely sure I wasn’t dreaming. She and Dad had been in Ireland two days ago.

She pulled away, grabbing my upper arms as she stared at me as if I’d lost my mind.

“What do you mean, what am I doing here? You dropped the news of having found your mate on us and then didn’t answer your damn phone. What were we supposed to do but hop on the plane and come back?”

Rhett snorted a laugh, then quickly hugged my mom too. “He was busy with his mate. It’s a bit complicated. But it’s good to see you, Wendy.”

And not something I wanted to discuss in the middle of dinner when I’d not publicly declared that Nix was indeed my mate, though by now everyone appeared to know. It was obvious, because more and more pack members stopped by, trying to catch a glimpse of my elusive mage.

“Ohh, I heard all about it. Martin filled me in. Apparently, my future son-in-law likes to keep to himself.” She smiled, the wrinkles around her eyes crinkled, telling me she wasn’t put off by Nix’s standoffish behaviour in the least. “Can I meet him?”